LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



SAINT CASIMIR'S 



HYMN 



TO THE 



BLESSED VIRGIN, 



From the Latin. 



By rev. GEO. A. WATSON. 










1, 



Chas. B. Woodward & Co., PRiNTEfe%;- 

911 — 915 North Sixth Street, 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by 

Rev. GEORGE A. WATSON, 

In the ofifice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



The Library 
OF Congress 



WASHINGTON 



TO 

JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH, 

THREE 

MY DEDICATION, EYER 

BE. 



PREFACE. 

Sacred song is the language, in which the soul, elevated 
above the worry of a care-stricken world, speaks to its Creator, 
and holds, as it were, secret intercourse with Him, and gives free 
vent to her anxious longing after a more permanent, blissful 
abode, enlivened by the ever recurring and exultant outpourings 
of the extatic inhabitants of the Heavenly Sion. From the fre- 
quent mention of song in the Holy Scripture, we feel conscious, 
that it is nicely adapted to supply a spiritual want, experienced 
by the human soul, during its sojourn in this valley of tears. 
The Jewish people seemed to have been constantly reminded of 
the assistance, to be derived from this harmonious adjunct to the 
weakness of the human mind. " It speaks of the Song of the 
Cherubim and the Seraphim ; of the Song of the four and twen- 
ty Ancients; of the Song of the four living creatures of Ezechiel; 
of the Song of the blessed souls. And when the Son of God, 
made man for us, came upon the earth, then was the Song of 
Heaven made audible to mortal ears, and the Angels sang, and 
the Shepherds listened, ' Glory to God on high, and peace on 
earth to men of good will.' "(a) The Canticle of Canticles, of the 
wisest of men, but too plainly indicates to us, the high esteem in 
which we should hold this heaven-inspired, and heaven-descended 
favor. Sacred Song then, is emphatically a gift from God, aptly 
suited to raise our minds to a lively foretaste of the beauty, and 
the goodness of Almighty God. 

Bidding farewell to disquisition, let us now rather turn our 
attention to the beautiful Hymn of St. Casimir to the Blessed 
Virgin, a Translation of which follows. 

This, better than words, will explain what is meant by Sacred 
Song. The Translator has endeavored to embody in his Trans- 
lation, the Author's leading ideas. In addition to these, the de- 
mands of a poetic translation, necessitated the introduction of 
quite a number of secondaiy ideas, whose presence the intelli- 
(a) Bishop Elder. 



gent Reader will not regard, as marring the beauty of the Origi- 
nal. From the very nature of the subject, a repitition of woi'ds 
and ideas does occasionally occur The punctuation, at times, may 
appear faulty, but its correct application, the choral, or poetic, 
ear, will easily perceive. The division of the even verses of the 
couplets, into two equal parts, will render the use of this Hymn 
in Choirs, extremely easy. Where this arrangement was found 
impracticable, the first word in italics, of the odd verse, will indi- 
cate the required change. And here, I claim the privilege of 
acknowledging my indebtedness to my young friend, Wm. 
Garesche, Esq., who has rendered me valuable service in the 
preparation of the Preface. 

In the words of the concluding stanza, Farewell. 

Church of the Holy Natiie of Jesus, 
October 1st, i88i. 



SAINT CASIMIR, 



Saint Casimir, son of Casimir III, King of Poland, and 
Elizabeth of Austria, was born at Cracow, October 3, 1458. He 
was elected King of Hungary, but excluded from the Succession. 

Having renounced the vanities of the world, he devoted 

himself wholly to works of piety, and in these, he spent the re- 
maining years of his life. 

He was especially distinguished for his devotion to the 
Mother of God. In her honor, he composed a Hymn, which 
begins: Omni die, die Mariae. To Mary, daily say. He died 
at V'ilna, March 4, 1484. He was Canonized by Leo X, in 1521. 
His tomb was re-embellished in 1604, at which time, his gar- 
ments were found entire, his body incorrupt, and the Hymn, 
Omni die, resting under his right temple. For further particu- 
lars, see the Bollandists, March 4. 



PRAYER. 

Oh God ! Who in the midst of royal delights and the 
allurements of the world, hast strengthened Saint Casimir with 
the virtue of constancy, we beseech Thee, that the Faithful, 
through his intercession, may despise worldly desires, and aspire 
after Heavenly rewards. 

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth 
with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 



SAINT CASIMIR'S HYMN 

TO THE 

BLESSED VIRGIN. 



To Mary, give thy daily praise, 
To her, my soul, thy thoughts upraise. 
Her holy feasts, her actions kind. 
Be ever present, to thy mind. 

Admire her Queen-like, gracious mien, 
Its living source, the soul unseen. 
A Virgin Mother's, matchless fame, 
A Mother now, in joy proclaim. 

Devoutly, in her service move. 
Escape from crime's, detested groove. 
Avoid sin's tempest driven shore, 
Its loathsome wrecks, for evermore. 



— 8— 



Whate'er the mighty Lord hath reaped, 
Hath us upon, most bounteous heaped. 
T^/^^V generous Queen, of heav'nly grace. 
Has favored, ev'ry human race. 

Relate a Virgin Mother's deeds, 
As gently she, to triumph speeds, (a) 
A cur-sed and afflicted race, 
Hast Thou restored, to honor's place. 

Give to this lovely, ceaseless Queen, 
Exalted praise, its brightest sheen (b) 
Announce an ever generous mind, 
And gifts profuse, to human kind. 

Her glory, in an endless round, 
The body's aids, (c) her praise resound. 
The senses subject, conscious grow. 
Their duty do, their service show. 



(a) In manner meek, mighty in deed. 

(b) Exalted praise's, brightest theme. 

(c) The senses. 



-9— 



Who can of fluent, flaming word, (a) 
Her worth surpass, 'twere so absurd? 
Whose fertile, subtile, active brain. 
Can worthy hymns, of her obtain? 

God's Virgin Mother, all do prize, 
With Her they hope, their souls may rise. 
But not, indeed, to like renown. 
Nor such a bright, celestial crown. 

To pious minds, 'tis very clear. 
Rare virtue's needs, do so appear, 
That I and mine, her praise intend, 
And in her honor, these may blend. 

Due praise on Mary, to bestow, 
The wisest minds, can never know, 
Who keeps her name, and it foregoes, 
Most senseless he, his folly shows. 



(a) Eloquence. 



lO- 



Whose holy Hfe, to wisdom bound, 
Displayed its power, its love profound, (a) 
Who th' unbeliever's shallow craft, 
Upon its flare, did sure engraft, (b) 

Flowers have their proper, varied speech, 
Thy actions' chimes, they cannot reach. 
Her worthy words, their equal deeds. 
Are sweetest virtue's, surest seeds. 

Eve's fatal crime, had Heaven's approach, 
Against us barred, at sin's encroach, (c) 
Submissive, faithful Mary's will, 
Did souls induce, to enter still. 

A vengeful, and a bitter blow. 
Did haughty Eve, on man bestow. 
But Mary gracious, leads the way. 
To happy Heav'n's, eternal stay. 



(a) Displayed the power, of love profound. 

(b) Upon destruction, did engraft. 

(c) Encroachment. 



II 



In Mary's, ardent love engage, 
From youth her praise, advancing age. 
Entreat her, blameless venerate, 
From early dawn, to evening late. 

Her Son's behest, may She commend, 
A helping hand, may She extend. 
At life's eventful, happy close. 
Our souls receive, to Heaven's repose. 

The brightest glory of thy race. 
Elected know, to highest grace. 
Away, far down, mayst sweetly vieiv, 
The greatest, and the wisest few. 

Their voices, in thy service raise, 
Attentive view, thy servants' praise. 
The guilty cleanse, and nobly free, 
Of Heav'nly gifts, they worthy be. 



12- 



Great Jesse's rod, (a) and weary mind's 
Secure retreat, when passion blinds. 
Fair wisdom's bright, and honored road, 
The mighty Lord's, divine abode. 

In thy pursuits, we goodness view, 
And grace's fountain, dost renew. 
God's pleasing temple, ever found, 
In justice all, thy worth abound. 

Hail Virgin ! now the gates unbar, 
To hapless souls, from God afar. 
Against Thee, vainly was essayed, 
The serpent's fraud, it long delayed, (b) 

King David's, noble daughter fair, 
Of Heav'nly King, art Thou, the heir. 
From whom creation, steady flows. 
Whose hand preserves, it wisely knows. 



(a) In reference to her royal and sacerdotal descent 

(b) The serpent's venom, long delayed. 



—13 



Untainted, living virtue's stem, 
A charming rose, a dazzling gem. 
Who lead'st a Virgin choir elate, 
To endless joys, a happy state. 

Do th' expeditious, power bestow. 
That worthy words, and actions flow. 
Unceasing praises, may produce. 
Thy merits' crown, their holy use. 

May mem'ry, all its art afford, 
Thy frequent praise, its burden's load. 
Forget th' ignoble, worthless dead. 
And now to view, thy glory led. 

The death-like silence, of my lips, 
Too plainly shows, their guilty slips. 
Thy favors, silent may not be. 
Their sinful use, ma}^ never see. 



— 14— 

Upraise sweet commendation's voice, 

A Virgin's praise, in her rejoice. 

And those, in vice's ev'ry turn, 

Dear freedom's chance, they may not spurn. 

Always most pure, and fruitful most, 

A Virgin Thou, a mighty host. 

A Virgin, yet a mother greets. 

So flow'ring palm, its fruit completes, (a) 

Be ever, consolation's pow'r, [flow'r. (b) 
Thy matchless charms, their beauty's 
x^nd from depressing, wearing grief, 
Its fruit afford, a swift relief. 



Without the stain of any sin. 
Fair beauty's boast, art Thou within. 
Pure, joyful, may we ever be. 
Thy praises' end, may never see. 



(a) Thy matchless beauty, and its flower. 

[bj Sinless, the Palm bears flowers and fruits, so did Mary, 
her divine son. 



15- 



Untasted joys, unwonted they, 
Through Mother Thee, their worth display. 
Faith's flaming, shining, guiding star, 
To heav'nly homes, it points afar, [a] 

To Thee, a bhssful tribute flows, 
A grateful world, its duty shows. 
Forgetful, of its former days, 
Bereft of truth's, consoling rays. 

The rich, in desolation cast, 
Review in grief, their treasures past. 
As, in thy very words, contained. 
The needy have, their all regained. 

The wand'ring, crooked ways perverse. 
Of manners vile, their deadly curse. 
Repelled by thy protecting hand. 
Hast forced to seek, another land. 



[a] To heav'nly kingdoms, points afar. 



— 16— 



Reduce the body's vices more. 
The weary soul, to God restore. 
To spurn the world, allurements vain, 
Hast taught, its follies to restrain, t^i 

In virtue's state, and God besought. 
The mind's pursuit, hast wisely taught. 
The body's notions, to restrain, 
A heav'nly crown, to thus obtain. 

Creator, and Redeemer great. 
Who led us back, to virtue's state. 
In chaste enclosure, hast Him borne, 
Now sorrow's darts, cease we to mourn, 

Hast born a Son, we truly state, 
A Mother Thou, Immaculate. 
Creator, Sovereign, present King, 
Of mighty Lords, and ev'ry thing. 



[a] To hate and spurn the world's allurements vain. 
Hast taught, and all the follies they contain. 



Hast wrecked the wary fiend's intent, 
Unconquered Thou, thy might unspent, (a) 
Salvation s hope, rehnquished sore, 
Shines back by pardon, as before. 

Of Him, the Mother, sweetly sing, 
A blessed Lord, unconqu'r'd King. 
Born uncreated, and of Thee, (b) 
The Saviour of, our race is he. (c) 

Of the despairing, soul oppressed. 
Repairer Thou, consoler best. 
Protect from all affliction sore, 
The wicked can, escape no more, (^i) 

May not destruction's fearful doom, 
In fire-fed pool, my soul consume. 
A heav'nly crown, for me obtain, 
Its rarest virtues, may I gain. 



(a) And Thou, with conqu'ring might unspent, Hast, etc. 

(b) And truly, also born of Thee. 

[c] By Grace, the Savior of our race, is he. This, with the 
preceeding verse, indicates a threefold Birth. See Butler's 
Saints' Lives, Dec. 25th. 

[d] Krom which the wicked, can escape no more. 



— 18 



Give freely to th' entreating mind, t^i 
Celestial gifts, and them combined. 
Which cure its ev'ry, deadly sore, 
Its just desires, to it restore. 

Chaste, modest, may I ever be, 
Dissension's son, may never see. 
Attractive, sober, pious, kind, 
And others' rights, may cautious mind. 

Most aptly taught, supremely well. 
In wisdom's race, may praise compel. 
On guard against the cunning foe. 
Right well adorned, with virtue's glow, 

In all, still seeing naught defiled. 
Unchanging, grave, and ever mild. 
Mature and stainless, void of guile, 
Forbearing, meek, for all a smile. 



[a] By way of Intercession. 



— 19- 



Th' unvarnished truth to say and find, 
A guarded heart, a thoughtful mind, 
No evil wishing, serving God, 
In holy works, without the prod. 

Be Thou the tutrix, aider near, 
The christian's help, we banish fear. 
Fix not our thoughts, on things below, 
Through grace's channels, let them flow. 

Above all praises, worthy far. 
Of shoreless sea, the saving Star. 
Dost in fair beauty, far outrun. 
The lightsome orb, and shining sun. 

Sustain, relieve, and give the meek, 
Thy prayer intense, them quickly seek. 
What darkens, or depraves the mind, 
Correct, remove, in fetters bind. 



20- 



A happy Virgin's joy recount, 
From devil's frauds, we safely mount. 
A Virgin, and her godlike Son, 
Restored the Crown, the devil won. 

Inviolate, and fruitful made. 
By heav'nly off-spring, art repaid. 
With modest virtue's, lilly crown, 
Enriched and raised, to great renown. 

For what Thou wast. Thou dost remain, 
And generating, know'st no stain. 
Dost meekly nurse, and handle him. 
From whom thy body, soul and limb. 

Oh ! deign me gracious, to commend. 
And by thy Son, my soul defend. 
That I destruction, may escape, 
From danger dire, my course may shape. 



■21 



That I be meek, contention part, 
Desires most wicked, from the heart. 
Against sin, give protection sure, 
And virtue's prize, may I secure. 

In slavish fetters, be not bound, 
In worldly lust, be never found. 
The souls in folly, that embark, 
It senseless makes, and doubly dark. 

Impede elation's deadly course, 
Of evils great, the fatal source. 
Devouring anger's wicked flow, 
Not madly blaze, with fury glow, (a) 

4 

May God's protecting, saving grace, 
My heart preserve, in virtue's race. 
Let not the ancient, wicked foe. 
Sow noxious seeds, of sin and woe. 



(a) Shall not, with blazing fury, glow. 



•22- 



Assistance thine, relief afford, 

Thy feasts and actions, may we hoard. 

Do not forget thy servants dear, 

In Heav'n, with Thee, may all appear. 

Raise meekly now, your gentle voice, (a) 
In God and Mary, e'er rejoice. 
Let not the sordid things of earth, 
Withdraw you, from a heav'nly birth. 

How few, and far between, our joys, 
On them the soul, its strength employs. 
In weak endeavors, sadly vain. 
To reach a bliss, they can't contain. 

We nobly pass, from passion's flow. 
When virtue does, her force bestow. 
To Mary, humbly have recourse. 
From Her to us, is virtue's source. 



(a) Added. 



ERRATA. 

On page 4, second line, for "Speaks to its Creator," read 
"Speaks to her Creator." 

On page 16, last verse, for "Hast born a son," read "Hast 
borne a son." 



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